LIVONIA, Mich. – March 29, 2018 - The Schoolcraft College Board of Trustees approved placing a proposal on the Nov. 6 ballot at last night’s meeting.

“For someone with a home valued at $200,000, passing this proposal would cost them less than $50 more a year, but would help the college continue to carry out its mission for both the students in our district and the community,” said Board of Trustees chair Brian Broderick.

Broderick indicated that the college is currently collecting about the same amount of property tax as it did 12 years ago.

"We would just like to collect the amount of money voters approved for Schoolcraft College back in 1986, without that Headlee rollback,” he said.

Even with numerous cost-cutting and alternative revenue generating initiatives Schoolcraft College has instituted during the past few years, Broderick said the college operated with a $6 million deficit for fiscal year 2017, and it is projected that the deficit will grow in fiscal year 2018.

“Schoolcraft College has had an incredible impact on this community over the years, and more than 90 percent of our graduates stay in Michigan and work and live in our community,” Board of Trustees chair Brian Broderick said. “The college has proven it is a good steward of dollars from the community, but the Headlee rollback has really hamstrung us.”

If the ballot proposal passes, the additional funds will enable the college to invest in more career and technical education programs, improve job opportunities for students and help fill a shortage of qualified job candidates for many area companies. The college will also be able to continue to provide cost-effect education, thereby reducing the number of loans area students will need to attend college.

In addition, if the proposal passes, the college will increase its outreach to the local K-12 school districts to partner in efforts to better prepare students for the jobs of the future. This project would provide professional development for area teachers, curriculum development support for school administrators and a more seamless transition from high school to college to the local workforce.

For more information about Schoolcraft College and the Nov. 6. ballot proposal, visit www.schoolcraft.edu.